Friday, September 28, 2012

With the rebirth of Autumn come the changing colors of the deciduous trees. One of the most spectacular places to see this is Delaware Water Gap that divides New Jersey and Pennsylvania. As a child we often were taken on family rides through the Gap and the Indian Head Rock on the New Jersey side with its very colorful headdress was always pointed out to us by our parents or our dear family friend Sam Jones.

Today I saw a photo of this on the New Jersey website for Millbrook Village. The photo brought back a flood of happy childhood memories.

I then wondered if erosion has worn down the Indian's facial features, in particular the once prominent nose. So I surfed the images of this natural phenomena and came up with a postcard from yesteryear, however there was no date on it.

I honestly do not see much of a difference, although my memory tells me that there is a difference. Perhaps it is just the more vivid imagination of a child who saw a more prominent proboscis back in the early sixties!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in
butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water, a
tablespoon at a time, until mixture forms a ball. Wrap in plastic and
refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Roll dough out to fit a 9 inch pie plate.I always use parchment paper. Place
crust in pie plate. Press the dough evenly into the bottom and sides of
the pie plate.

Mix Together the following in a bowl and turn into the crust, add top crust, pinch around sides, make" tic-tac- toe" slits on top to let out steam. With leftover dough make some leaves to add some pizzazz to the pie. See photos below.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

When we make the effort to cozy up our
home and fill it with an atmosphere that glows with the celebration of
the season, it is a gift to our family and those who come to visit. It’s
those extra little things we do, to create a feeling of warmth and
whimsy, joy and goodness, that communicates a message to our family that
says: you are loved and it is my pleasure to make you feel nurtured and
cared for.

My warm cozy Autumn living room.

It’s a message that hugs the hearts of those we love and it
gives them a delicious affection for home. We must never underestimate
the importance of providing a loving environment for our family, it sets
the stage for happy memories that will last a lifetime.Aunt Ruthie "Sugar Pie Farmhouse"

Sunday, September 23, 2012

"I am the beach, and here you shall find peace. I am the beach, here you shall find love. "

The lovely wedding of our niece Alison to Jeffrey on September 21, 2012 at half past four in the afternoon on the beach of the Surf Rider Beach Club in Sea Bright, New Jersey. The reception followed in the lovely ballroom of the club's Windows On The Water.

My favorite part of this wedding was having my husband's entire family together again! Then naturally I would absolutely love the idea that the ceremony was on the beach. As the
breaking of the surface of water, by waves, falls
it releases negative ions in the atmosphere. By their
ability to stick to different free radicals, they are very beneficial
for our health and our emotional well being.

How do you describe a wedding ceremony on the beach. The fresh salty air, the warmth of the sun, the rhapsody of the waves crashing against the shoreline, and the melodious romantic music hovering around us.

The stage was set and then the principal players arrived, so beautiful, so loving, so at peace. The vows were light and loving. At the end of the ceremony when the officiant announced the bride and groom as husband and wife beach balls began floating throughout the guests as if they appeared out of nowhere. The bride and groom reached for the sky in joyful glee!

We all ascended the stairs to the first floor deck which was set up for the cocktail/hors d'oeuvre hour. There were stations set up for the hors d'oeuvres, veggie crudites', antipasto, fresh fruits, a variety of cheeses, and there were waiters in complete uniform including white gloves carrying trays of hors d'oeuvres, filet Mignon on toast with horseradish, lobster tail tempura, mini crab cakes, spinach artichoke phyllo dough cups, shrimp kabobs, and much more.

After the cocktail/hors d'oeuvre hour we were escorted to the second floor ballroom. The ballroom of the Windows On The Water Beach Club was a very large, room with one entire wall of windows over looking another deck, the beach, and the Atlantic Ocean. There were several elegant chandeliers, the tables and bamboo decor chairs were light in color and gave the room a bright and airy ambiance!

The wedding favors were a cute tin pail filled with Jersey Shore salt water taffy. There were photo magnets to be used in collaboration with the photo booth set up in the back of the room. There was a bottle of Tuscany wine for each adult that came from a Bridgewater, NJ winery. The label commemorated the happy event. My husbands family are from Bridgewater, NJ.

The reception was so much fun and everyone was dancing. The bride danced the entire time! She was so graceful and was having so much fun with all of her friends. It was wonderful that my father-in-law was able to attend, and we took that opportunity to take many pictures with him and his family. Because the Groom was Jewish and Italian and the Bride Italian, English, Irish, and German there were several folk dances, as seen in the YouTube video below.

The meal at the reception included a waiter served salad and rolls, and then in buffet style they had four stations of several different cuisine. There was a seafood station that consisted of Mussels Marinara, Fried Calamari, and Risotto Fra Diablo. The next station was Italian food that consisted of "delicious" Lasagna, Sausage and Peppers, and (something else I didn't try). My favorite station was the Filet Mignon station with Filet, sauteed onions, mushrooms, beef gravy, roasted red potatoes, and grilled summer veggies. I never made it to the fourth station, as I couldn't eat another thing. After they cut the cake, they brought a tray of Italian cookies(including chocolate dipped cannolis) and coffee to each table. The cake was so moist, it was as if it were Trifel, and my piece included a white chocolate sea shell. All of the food was delicious!

At ten o'clock PM everyone went out to the beach for a bonfire, roasting marshmallows, and making Smores. The next morning the parents of the Groom held a family brunch in their lovely seaside home. On Sunday the couple left for a Hawaiian Honeymoon. Congratulations Alison and Jeff!

This blog post is dedicated to memory of my late brother-in-law Richard Hoffman the father of the Bride who passed away from a sudden heart attack at the age of forty-nine in April 1996.

From the John Denver song On The Wings Of A Dream

There are those who will lead usProtect us each step of the wayFrom beginning to endFor each moment forever each daySuch a gift has been givenIt can never be taken awayThough the body in passing must leave usThere is one who remains to receive usThere are those in this lifeWho are friends from our heavenly homeSo I listen to the voices inside meFor I know they are there just to guide meAnd my faith will proclaim it is soWe are never aloneFrom the life to the lightFrom the dark of the night to the dawnHe is so in my heart He is here he could never be gone.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Since the minor, who by legal definition lacks
the ability to give informed consent, a parent who uses a photo of
their child publicly has given consent for it to be viewed publicly.

As an article written by Brian Gongol states when you share a status
update, tweet, or comment that is of adult content and your profile
photo is of your child, you have just tied that child's image with adult
comment and it is just wrong!

Perhaps you have not written status updates, tweets, or comments with
adult content yourself, but if you have "liked" or made a comment on the
page of another that has adult content, you just linked your child with
that content!

The innocence of the pure of heart should not be
compromised by thoughtless coupling of their image with adult hatred or
defamation! Do your children a favor and remove their face from your
profile picture! It is the right thing to do for their sake.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

We mustn't just remember the horrible details of that
tragic day, but the lesson that we must learn from all tragic events and
loss. We must attain Peace and move forward in harmony if the lives
that were lost are to have a lasting meaning instead of just a tragic
end.

Though
common vernacular would dictate that I should say that I have always
been a fan of John Denver I would rather use the words kindred spirit
who has been amazed by his ability to move the human soul with his
lyrics and music. I remember once that Jeni Stepanek
had commented on one of my John Denver post. Jeni is the mother of
Mattie Stepanek the young boy who inspires the world with his words and
especially this phrase "Peace Is Possible". Like John, Mattie continues
to inspire even though he has passed on. It is my opinion that this
John Denver song that appears on his debut album from 1969 was prophetic. There are
several lines that impress me and make feel that it is prophetic
regarding the terrorist acts that changed our world on September 11,
2001. John wrote:

Though the cities start to crumble And the towers fall around us The sun is slowly fading And it's colder than the sea

It gives me the chills to hear him sing these words and coupling them
with the description many who were there in lower Manhattan that
horrible day his lyrics in 1969 truly hit home!

As in all tragedy and loss we look for the
lesson or the message that helps us to make sense of the event. I
believe these next lines of John's song Rhymes and Reasons is our
message and as Jeni Stepanek entitled her latest book Messenger I
believe it is Mattie and his message of Peace that leads us to a better
way.

It is written from the desert To the mountains they shall lead us By the hand and by the heart They will comfort you and me In their innocence and trusting They will teach us to be free

For the children and the flowers Are my sisters and my brothers Their laughter and their loveliness Would clear a cloudy day

And the song that I am singing Is a prayer to non believers Come and stand beside us We can find a better way.

Now it is up to us to listen, and follow their lead. Let us make their
lives, their message a integral part of each and every day, of each and
every word we write and say!

To
learn more about this truly remarkable young man who I believed
received his message through Providential Divine Inspiration.: http://www.mattieonline.com/

Friday, September 7, 2012

On September 6, 2012 my daughter Jamiann and I attended a Barry Manilow Concert at the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA.
Last night we got to experience the show with both of Jamiann's
daughters. The eldest is the same age Jami was when she first saw Barry
in concert.

Jamiann has been a fan since she was 9 years old when she first
saw him in concert at the Stabler Arena with my sister Irene who won the
tickets, a limo ride to the concert, and each received a long stem rose.

Together Jami and I have seen him numerous times including live on the
Rosie O'Donnell Show, The View, Good Morning America, The Today Show,
and two tapings of live concerts for television while in Nashville, TN.

We had a great time! Barry' s voice was never better! At
the end of the concert we ran into several of our longtime friends from
the Manilow fan clubs. The last time I had seen Faye and Lynn was at Jamiann's wedding over ten years ago. It was so good to see them!

The
Grand Finale of two songs, Copacabana, and I Write The Songs.

Barry thanked the many fans who attended last night that brought a donated musical instrument for the Manilow Music Project Last year, in response to the needs of public schools and
their severely depleted music programs, Barry gathered some friends and
formed The Manilow Music Project as part of his non-profit, Manilow Fund
for Health and Hope. The mission statement of the Project highlights
the importance of music programs in U.S. schools and donates instruments
and materials to school music programs. http://www.manilowmusicproject.org/latestnews10_1_09.html

Monday, September 3, 2012

We stayed home today and my daughter Jamiann and her family came over for dinner. For
the first time ever I smoked a standing pork rib roast using apple wood
in my electric grill. It was delicious. I served it with Piazza's
Jersey Sweet Corn, Boiled Red Potatoes, a Romaine salad with tomatoes
from my garden, and we had Smores for dessert.

On Friday I rode along with my husband to New Jersey to pick up the Simmons mattress and box spring set, that I won on Facebook from the Ashley Furniture Store in Phillipsburg/Greenwich Mall. We stopped by Piazza's Farm Market for their delicious sweet corn and Jersey Peaches. Saturday we attended our grand-children's birthday party at the home of our daughter Jennifer. Sunday we went out to dinner with my daughter Jamiann's family. We put our tent up in the yard for the grand-kids to have a sleep over and campfire for one last end of summer Hoorah! I even bought giant marshmallows and Hebrew National Beef Franks to roast over the campfire. Well, the rain from Hurricane Isaac put a kibosh to that!

My husband was thrilled to have seven days off celebrating "No Labor"! Well except for picking up the new bedding set and putting it on the frame. But at least now he is getting a very restful sleep! I hate to see summer end!

The Blog Of Diane Dunwell-Hoffman

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Praising GOD daily for the abundant blessings he has bestowed upon me through my loving family & friends, talents HE has given me, and my beautiful new home and community! The Glory for all of it goes to GOD. HE is my rock and HIS word is my foundation! Thank you Lord, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Amen!

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I want to encourage homemakers of all ages to turn their hearts back home and create a warm and cozy nest for their loved ones. We can't control what happens in the world, but we can do a lot of things to make sure our home is safe, secure and filled with comfort, joy and love. It's all about blessing those who are dear to our hearts! Aunt Ruthie Sugar Pie Farmhouse

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A dream is a wish your heart makesWhen you're fast asleepIn dreams you lose your heartachesWhatever you wish for, you keepHave faith in your dreams and somedayYour rainbow will come smiling thruNo matter how your heart is grievingIf you keep on believingthe dream that you wish will come true

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Peace!

“I’ve learned that empowered thinking is a choice - a state of mind. It’s the ability to enjoy a rose with no mind of the thorn. It’s the ability to celebrate a life even though it has passed. It’s seeing the flowers even during a rainstorm. It’s the decision to no longer drink the poison of victimized thinking. It’s making the choice to finally stop telling God how big my problems are and start telling my problems how big God is.” - Steve Maraboli

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About Me

I am the author of "My Ominous Adventures At True Blue Farm, The Secret Behind The Mirror".
I am foremost a mother of two lovely married daughters who each have three children and each have two girls and a boy. They are my life! I live in the beautiful private gated community of Lake Wynonah, Pennsylvania. I love nature!
My favorite entertainer is John Denver. My favorite writers, Rod McKuen, Richard Paul Evans, and Lucy Maude Montgomery.
My favorite movies are Meet Me In Saint Louis and Lady In White.
"Bloom where you are planted."